In The News

Fencing master to the stars Bob Anderson passes away

Fencing master to the stars Bob Anderson passes away

FENCING expert Bob Anderson, who taught an array of film stars how to deliver their killer blows on the big screen, has passed away. He was 89.

Mr. Anderson competed in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki with the British fencing team. But only days before the big competition he was teaching Errol Flynn how to handle sword-fight scenes in the movie The Master of Ballantrae.

This was the start of what was to become a key part of his work over many years.

He combined his duties as an Olympic fencing coach with preparing stars including Sean Connery, David Niven, Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones for their on-screen combat.

The result of his work can be seen in a range of films including Barry Lyndon, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Mask of Zorro.

He was to step in front of the cameras when he donned Darth Vader’s mask for the fight scenes in the Star Wars movies The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).

To view a short interview with Mr. Anderson click here.

 

View previous In the News items: Cartoonist and illustrator Ronald Searle passes away, Former Liverpool and Everton footballer Gary Ablett passes away, Singer and actress Kaye Stevens passes away, Pop artist James Rizzi passes away, Tributes are paid to the musician Jim Sherwood, Abstract sculptor John Chamberlain passes away, Slight fall in the number of deaths recorded in Northern Ireland, Kojak actor Dan Frazer passes away, On the Buses writer Ronnie Wolfe passes away, Hospice organisations launch Christmas Appeals, Tributes are paid to former BBC journalist Phillip Cottrell, Comic book artist who created The Joker passes away, Mash star Harry Morgan passes away, British driver who made Formula One history passes away, Character actor Bill McKinney passes away, Actor and comedian Alan Sues passes away, One of the last cricketing invincible Sam Loxton passes away, Rare Egyptian coffin is discovered in English museum, Actor Richard Morant passes away, Paris grave of Oscar Wilde is unveiled following renovation, Only daughter of Josef Stalin passes away in the United States, Film director Ken Russell passes away, Football world mourns the death of Gary Speed at 42, Veteran reporter who covered Kennedy assassination passes away, Italian car designer Sergio Scaglietti passes away, Artist and sculptor Gerald Laing passes away, Tireless campaigner for humand rights Danielle Mitterrand passes away, Boss of worldwide sports agency passes away, Cricket legend Basil DOliveira passes away, Karl Slover who appeared in the Wizard of Oz passes away, Actress Dulcie Gray passes away, Former footballer Alf Fields passes away, Political satirist and impressionist Sean Crummey is laid to rest, Security measures taken to protect grave of Sir Jimmy Savile, Developer of the indoor skiiing machine passes away, Sir Jimmy Savile is laid to rest, Former world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier passes away, Doctor who helped create synthetic skin passes away, Actor Leonard Stone passes away, Country music singer and songwriter Liz Anderson passes away, Boxer Irish Tom McNeeley passes away, Big band singer Beryl Davis passes away, Tributes are paid to the actor Charles Napier, Songwriter and musician Paul Leka passes away or Computer scientist who coined the term Atificial Intelligence passes away

 

If you have a relative or a friend who has passed away and feel they should be mentioned in our In the News section, then please email us.